I don’t live in New York County, so I didn’t vote in the DA election across the river. Cyrus Vance, Jr., won; there will be a new DA in NY county, ending the Morganthau era. Funny, Vance doesn’t look like Sam Waterston’s Jack McCoy… (never mind; silly joke).
At least three city councilmen have been ousted, including Alan Gerson of lower Manhattan (the district covering Chinatown) who lost to Margaret Chin. More Asians will be representing NYC in city council.
As I noted previously, in a vague way, there is an opening in the 2nd Circuit of the US Court of Appeals, and with Pres. Obama nominating Asian Americans for federal district court… well, at least we can hope around here in the NY area of what made happen for that next level: US Senator Schumer recommended Judge Denny Chin for the promotion. Considering the whole Bernie Madoff case and that Judge Chin has the experience – well, we’ll see!
I managed to watch most of the new episode of the new show “Glee” on FOX – entertaining, and seems to have potential. I do agree with Time’ James Poniewozik – the show seems to have humor and heart – and flaws. As much as I’m amused by Jane Lynch’s cheerleading squad coach character, I’m a little intimidated by her character (she’s quite a comedic actress; I’d hope for her character to be better than a one-dimensional broad caricature); and I do agree with Poniewozik – Jessalyn Gilsig’s character as the wife of Will, the Glee club faculty advisor – well, she was also way too one-dimensional (although, I think they were trying to move past that by the end of the episode – hard to tell) – and she’s an actress who deserves better than that (she made “Heroes” bearable to watch for me, and I watched “Boston Public” because of her time there). And, the OCD teacher (sorry, guidance counselor?) – well, she’s also a touch annoying.
But, I think Will and the Glee kids are sincere and hopeful (if not a little over their heads). We’ll see how this goes; I’ll give them a chance..
As Entertainment Weekly’s Ken Tucker notes: it’s the return of “At the Movies” – with movie critics! A.O. Scott of NY Times and Michael Phillips of Chicago Tribune – the new guys, since the two Bens were ousted (see here on my acknowledging the arrival of the two Bens). Not that there was anything wrong with Ben Mankiewicz (as Tucker noted), but Ben Lyons bore the brunt of the (bad) criticism of his movie criticism ability (he’s not quite like his dad, Jeffrey, apparently; I didn’t hate him, but I didn’t watch the show at all while the Bens were on, so…).
So, thankfully, A.O. Scott and Michael Phillips are At the Movies (considering that they’ve filled in for Ebert when it was the Ebert and Roeper show, they’ve shown they are able folks). I love that the embedded video that Tucker included in his blog, previewing the new show, is all about how Scott and Phillips are Serious Journalists and Longtime Film Critics (totally trying to make up for the whole Ben Lyons thing, no offense intended for the kid, but guess it’s time to find other things to do; I do miss Jeffrey Lyons though).
I watched it an episode this past weekend and it was pretty good, although I’m not sure of their “see it/rent it/skip it” rating (Ebert has the rights to the thumbs up/down thing, so it wasn’t as if they could use it). But, it is great to see Scott and Phillips talking serious (joy or hate) about movies.
I did see “The Time Traveler’s Wife” this weekend; could’ve been a better movie, but was ok. I’ve heard the book was better, but it’s an adaptation; it does what it can do.
Saw “Adam” last week – that was kind of sweet and sad; I think this one and “(500) Days of Summer” are the dark romantic movies of the summer – can’t really say anti-romantic, since they both suggest that it’s better to have loved than to have never loved at all, but they were both bittersweet movies.
US Open and Ramadan – a Pakistani tennis player who tries to be cosmopolitan, religious, and professional all at once.
Jason Bateman profile. He’s come a long way from the 1980’s child acting gigs. Plus, I loved how the article mentions his Valerie/Valerie’s Family/The Hogan Family days (the one tv series with three different titles (and two networks) – an average comedy that somehow managed to stay on the air for a decent run).
Space has a smell. That’s more than I would have figured, since smell involves someone’s brain, via the senses, to detect.
I can’t seem to find a link to an on-line version of the article, but Richard Huff of Daily News reported that Friday’s edition of Channel 11’s 10pm newscast was likely the first time in NYC metro area new that both anchors were Asians, with Arthur Chi’en filling in for Jim Watkins and sitting with Kaity Tong. They even acknowledged it during the news, just before the sports segment (and had otherwise made it just the usual Channel 11 news thing).
I’m confused with Barney and Robin, but that’s ok. Another season of “How I Met Your Mother” to enjoy!
A Power Ranger who wants to do Mixed Martial Arts. As they say in “Grey’s Anatomy”: Seriously? The ex-Green Ranger did a recent return to the Power Rangers show (umm, about a couple of years ago), as the adult version of his character, and he came off his age on the show – meaning, his 30’s. He isn’t a kid anymore, so he really ought to be careful.
Angry Asian Man has some nifty links roundup, including on a NY Times profile on Andrea Wong of Lifetime (ok, granted, besides being the channel with Golden Girls reruns, it seems to be making its way with reality shows… must we continue the track on reality shows?) and an article on the honoring of Cristeta Comerford, the Filipina head chef at the White House.
Angry Asian Man also considers the new Nissin ad with the little Asian Master (preaching the way of the Nissin noodles) racist. Scenario: wise little Asian Master (appearing to be CGI created) appears in an Office pantry, directing young white woman to “enlightenment”: add water and zap your Nissin noodles for a nice lunch. Granted, I was weirded out by the commercial – thinking along the lines of “This broad stereotyping still happens on tv in 2009?” – but I’m not sure of what to make of the way the commercial ended – where, while enjoying her bite of Nissin noodles, the woman asks little Asian Master who is he, and he responds (with a less broad accent) that he’s Eddie from Accounting; later, he walks into the cubicles and does a high-five (for him anyway) with a white guy who greets “Eddie” – suggesting everybody knows Eddie (or maybe he’s walking to his cubicle in accounting; who knows?).
Was that the ad’s way of trying to somehow compensate for its offensiveness? The twist to the wise Asian Master thing? If he wasn’t wearing the silly robe or have the silly accent, maybe I’d forgive the ad, but it’s kind of stupid – it doesn’t really make me want to eat Nissin noodles at all anyway.
The return of Inspector Lewis in American (public) television. Good stuff – looks like Lewis is hitting his groove as an inspector, with the dishy young Sgt. Hathaway as the trusty sidekick (well, he’s referred as “dishy” by Dr. Hobson, the medical examiner; not like I’d refer to him that way! … but he is dishy). Lewis is moving forward out of Inspector Morse’s shadow. Kind of interesting that he and Dr. Hobson seem to have some chemistry (she was fond of Morse, if I recalled – or maybe it was the other woman medical examiner?).
Aww. No more Reading Rainbow. Growing up on Levar Burton (before and during his Star Trek years, believe it or not), as he encourages kids to read. So what will encourage kids to read now? (besides much Harry Potter).
With the passing of Walter Cronkite, Don Hewitt, Eunice Kennedy and now the passing of Edward Kennedy – this has been the summer of watching the passing of an era. I feel touched by the airings of the clips of Sen. Kennedy’s speech about the work, hopes and dreams continuing.
This Slate article by Daniel Gross raises a good point: it’s kind of hard to criticize government health insurance if you’re a recipient of government health insurance. Well, no one said that hypocrisy isn’t funny.
Saw “Julie & Julia ” (FC had also seen it; he said the movie makes one hungry; I’ll second that). Good movie!
This was a great story about how Roxanne Shante, one of the first female rappers of the 1980’s, went on to earn a Phd. in psychology from Cornell, all paid by the recording company, per her recording contract (which otherwise gave her paltry royalties, sadly). Apparently, those clauses in an entertainment contract (I think these clauses are in some professional athletes’ contracts) that the employer pays for the education of the employee – or the service provider, if you will …- are worth it. You can get your dream, or pursue new ones.
Speaking of the 1980’s, interesting ideas on what ye olde ’80 tv stars should do. But, really – I count Arsenio Hall as a 1990’s tv star, not an ’80’s star (contrary to what Television Without Pity says in the foregoing link). Oh well.
Thought this was an interesting article in Time magazine about John Kerry‘s post 2004 election life and how his current situation – as Senator from Massachusetts dealing with the future and a leading foreign affairs leader – has been. I thought it was poignant that the article mentions how Kerry has on his wall his invitation to the Obama inauguration and a handwritten note from Obama thanking him: “‘I’m here because of you’” – a reminder that it was because of Kerry that Obama made that amazing speech at the 2004 convention and received an early endorsement.
Of all the various pieces about the presidential summer reading, I thought John Dickerson’s analysis was most pragmatic yet insightful (yeah, really, is he really going to read all that? Bill Clinton was a voracious reader, apparently, and it was a bit much when it turned out he read the same mainstream mysteries that I was at the time). But, really, couldn’t President Obama read something nice and light? It kind of makes me feel bad that I still haven’t finished reading the McCullough’s bio on Adams or Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals” for some years now, and Obama apparently will have already gotten through both books by the end of the summer (well, granted he read Goodwin last year, and took the Adams one with him to the Vineyard this summer)…
I’m not ready for the fall, but Television Without Pity is already doing the fall tv previews – complete with recommendations on what to watch, dvr, or online. While I am looking forward to news episodes of “How I Met Your Mother” and “Fringe,” and even the new shows “Glee” and “Community,” (and maybe even more “Law & Order” so we can watch more of the alternate universe DA election of Jack McCoy and the continued hijinks of ADA Michael Cutter), the shows I really want to watch aren’t going to be on until… 2010… (I’m talking about you, “Lost,” among other things).
I think series like “Smallville” outlasted its lifespan. (technically, so has “Heroes,” in my opinion, but apparently there are still fans out there). “House” has tired me out too, so perhaps I am in need of a boost of good new stuff.
Because we’re lawyers and Asians here at triscribe, consider the following:
Puer tea (or Pu-erh or other spellings) is about to be better regulated, in hopes that it’d be the next big thing, like Champagne from Champagne or something. Hmmm…
I’ll concede that I ought to read more Asian/Asian Americans. I should read more, period. Can someone fund my lottery fund to help me pursue this lovely idea?… hmmm….
I had no idea: Scottish actor Gerard Butler was almost a lawyer, but bailed on qualifying (or failed or was asked to leave his apprenticeship or however it works in Scotland) and ended up acting instead.
What is with lawyers/lawyers-to-be and the arts? Hmm….
Trailer for a C-SPAN thing – apparently, they might have actually gotten the Nine to be talking heads; minus Alito and Sotomayor, so a tad dated – but still – they’re actually all talking? About the court building itself, of course – not about anything substantive… Still, an interesting trailer. Very spiffy looking.
